For participants

Visa & useful information

VISAS

DISCLAIMER: The information on this Web page was obtained from official sources in December 2018 and has been made available for the convenience of participants. We will not accept any responsibility regarding the correctness of this information. It is strongly recommended that participants consult the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website as well as the nearest representation abroad well in advance of their trip to obtain official information on travelling to Slovenia.

The whole process of requiring a visa is the sole responsibility of each individual traveller.

Who needs a visa to visit Slovenia?

Slovenia is member of the European Union and is generally an open country, and visas are not necessary for most visitors. Citizens of the EU and most neighbouring countries can travel to Slovenia with their official, government issued passport or ID card.

Citizens of the USA are allowed to enter the Schengen area (including Slovenia) for a maximum stay of 90 days within 180 days without a Visa. Countries request only a biometric passport, that is at least three months valid after the last intended date of departure.

Certain nationals (see here) must hold a valid visa, in addition to a valid government-issued travel document (passport or other ID), in order to enter Slovenia. If in doubt, please check visa requirements for your country on the webpage of the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

How to apply for a visa?

The applicants should submit the application in person at a diplomatic mission or consular post or through an external service provider. A personal submission of the application enables the staff of diplomatic missions or consular posts to form a first impression about the contents of the application and to ask the applicant some questions about the purpose of the travel and the provided documents. Upon submitting the application, the applicants should give all ten fingerprints.

How long does the visa issuing procedure take?

In principle, a visa application should be lodged at least 15 calendar days before the intended visit and cannot be lodged earlier than three months before the start of the intended visit.

An application lodged less than 15 calendar days before the intended departure may be accepted, but applicants should be informed that the processing time may be up to 15 calendar days. If the applicant insists on making the application, he or she should be informed that the final decision might be taken after the intended date of departure.

Be sure to apply for a visa early, so you can arrive at the Congress in good time.

Letter of Guarantee

Slovenian authorities may request letters of invitation from 8ECM participants. You will be able to obtain such a letter once you complete the registration process and pay the registration fee in full. We remind all participants that this letter is individual and is not meant to replace standard visa and immigration procedures. Visa requests remain the sole responsibility of each individual traveler.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Official language

The official language of Slovenia is Slovene. However, English is understood and spoken by a majority of Slovenes, especially the younger generations. English is spoken in airports, travel agencies, hotels and restaurants. Croatian and Italian are also languages that are often used in Slovene Istria, since Croatia and Italy are neighbouring countries and both the Slovene and Italian languages are official in the municipalities of Piran, Izola and Koper.

Time zone

Time zone in Slovenia is GMT +1.

Currency

The official currency in Slovenia is the Euro (€). You can exchange foreign currency in any bank, exchange office or tourist office. A wide variety of credit cards are accepted in almost all shops, restaurants, hotels or travel agencies. ATM machines are available almost anywhere.

Weather

Slovene Istria has a Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by rainy winters and dry summers. Summer (from June to September) has typically very warm weather with temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius.

We advise you to check the weather before you travel and plan accordingly. Detailed weather forecasts can be found here.

Safety Information

Slovenia is generally a safe country with low crime rates. Use common sense and take security precautions, report any incidents to the local police.

As always, be sure to look out for your own safety.

Emergency contacts

Travel insurance

8ECM participants are urged to obtain adequate travel and health insurance before leaving their home countries. The organizers of the 8ECM will not accept any responsibility for accidental incidents occurring during the event.

Mains Electricity

The standard local voltage is 230 volts with 50Hz frequency. The current standard for power plugs in Slovenia looks like this

Water

In Slovenia, you can drink tap water, since it is pristine. However, the quality of drinking water varies greatly around Slovenia, as there are over a thousand water supply systems. In some parts, the water in towns is of higher quality than the water in the countryside. However, many Slovenian drinking waters are hard, i.e. they have high contents of harmless lime scale.

Tap water is often served to you even at the catering establishments, when, for example, you order a cup of coffee, with wine, food and similar. On warm and hot days, there are also public drinking fountains with natural drinking water available in many Slovenian towns.

Tipping

Tipping in Slovenia is not required, however, it is welcome and appropriate for good service.

WI-FI and phone services

Wi-Fi Internet service is widely available (oftentimes for free) in hotels, shopping malls, cafés and other locations. Local mobile phone companies sell prepaid SIM cards for phone calls and 3G and 4G Internet access.